Two juveniles claim man tried to get them to enter white passenger van

Ocean Township police are on a hunt for a man who allegedly attempted to lure two juveniles boys into a van in the Oakhurst section of the township late last week.

At approximately 8:19 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, police responded to an area near the intersection of West Park Avenue and Whalepond Road after being alerted of a possible luring suspect, according to a news release from the Ocean Township police department.

Two boys, age 11 and 12, told police an unknown man who looked to be in his early 40s approached them and yelled to them to come over to his white passenger van. The boys ran away and notified their parents, who contacted police, the release stated.

The driver is described as having a balding hairstyle with small strands of hair on the side of his head and a light beard described as “scruffy.” A composite sketch of the suspect is shown at right.

The white passenger van has regular sized front driver and passenger windows and smaller tinted windows that went along the side of the van, the release stated. The victim’s reported seeing a small amount of rust on the rear driver side and middle portion of the van, which was last seen driving southbound on Whalepond Road.

If anyone has information about or may have witnessed anything suspicious they are asked to contact Detective Bryan Morgan at 732-531-1800.

Information can also be provided via email at [email protected], or by calling the crime tip hotline at 732-531-3323. All information is kept confidential.